Watch timing apparatus



y 7, 1948. J. LEPLATTENIER 2,445,916

WATCH TIMING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 21, 1943 ,Zrmuezvior J lattazz (Jar Patented July 27, 1948 Jean LEplattenier, La Cliaux'de l onds,

Switzerland 2' i1d-'* Application December 21, 191a,seri lnofisisica,

In Switzerland January 22, 1943 r "I 3 clai s. (Circ -e 11 The obj ect'of the present invention is watch timing apparatus for checking. quickly the timing of rwatches, by comparing the duration of :osci-llation of; the watch to be checkedrwith that of a watch of precision used as standard. 'Thi's apparatus is intended for timing ordinary watches of current'quality. .1.

The apparatus according to :the invention. can be operated .without continuous supervision, so that several apparatus can be taken in charge by a single operator. It comprises an electrical device associated with a microphone and with a standard watch, and it is characterized by a relay operated by the test watch and acting on a time registering mechanism when the beats of the test watch coincide with those of the standard watch.

The attached drawing represents, by way of example, an embodiment of the invention. Fig. l

is a schematic representation of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative wiring diagram of the electrical part.

In the embodiment represented, the apparatus comprises a microphone a on which is placed a test watch m. This microphone is linked to the input side 1; of an amplifier b whose output side 10 is energizing through a first circuit I a relay the armature of which carries a contact connected in parallel (Fig. 1) or in series (Fig. 2) with a second circuit II. The amplifier b is of the radio type and is fed by the lighting net work a. This circuit 11 is controlled by a standard watch It and energizes an electro-magnet h. The armature of this magnet operates a chronograph z. Any other time registering mechanism can be used in place of the chronograph; The circuit II is fed by a source of current s through a potentiometer p.

The installation is used as follows:

The standard watch 7:: is timed in such a way as to have one beat less than normal every 30 seconds. This standard watch is thus in coincidence of beats, every 30 seconds, with the test Watch m placed on the microphone a, when this watch is exact; if it is fast or slow, the coincidence will occur sooner or later, respectively.

The relay 0 placed at the junction of the circuit of the test watch, I, and of the circuit of the standard watch, II, effects operation of the chronograph 2 by means of the electro-magnet h at the moment when the beats of the two watches coincide.

The standard watch It is provided with terminals t inwardly connected to a set of contacts operatively connected with means effective to close such contacts at ieach beat or the watch. The hand of the time registering mechanism i makes'a full revolution "every 30" seconds. A first coincidence starts it from zero. At *the sec= 0nd coincidence, 'it stops" again at zero if the test watch is accurate; and befor'ezero "or after zero if the test watch is fast or slows} The graduationjof the dial of thetime recording 'mechanisrn' i gives directly theamountin seconds per day by which the test Watch is fast or slow. The third coin-.

cidence resets the time registering mechanism to zero, ready for the next test watch.

The advantage of this apparatus resides not only in the utilization of a simple relay for signalling electrically the beat coincidences, but also in the fact that the contacts of this relay are connected in such. a way that they produce a variation of intensity of current and not a simple break. The result is a greater precision and a practically negligiblesparking.

Fig. 1 shows one of the methods of connection of the relay. The circuit II would always be in a condition to operate the electro-magnet h, if the latter were not shunted by a resistance R placed in series with the contacts of the relay c.

Fig. 2 shows another method of connection with a resistance R. placed in series with the electro-magnet but shunting the contacts of the relay 0.

What I claim is:

1. In a watch timing apparatus, a relay, sound responsive means for transmitting to said relay electrical impulses corresponding to the beats of a watch to be tested; a standard watch provided with a pair of electrical contacts actuated in synchronism with the beats thereof; a time registering mechanism, electromagnetic means effective to start, stop and reset to zero said time registering mechanism in response to successive energization thereof; an electric circuit including in series, said pair of contacts, said elec tromagnetic means and a source of current; a resistance incorporated in said circuit and normally efiective to reduce the current flowing through said electromagnetic means to a value insufficient to cause operation thereof; and means effective upon the actuation of said relay to nullify the current reducing effect of said resister whereby the electro-magnetic means is actuated only when the beat of the test watch coincides with the beat of the standard watch.

2. In a watch timing apparatus, a relay, sound responsive means for transmitting to said relay electrical impulses corresponding to the beats of a watch to be tested; a standard watch provided with a pair of electrical contacts actuated in synchronism with the beats thereof; a time registering mechanism, electromagnetic means effective to start, stop and reset to zero said time registering mechanism in response to successive energization thereof; an electric circuit including in series, said pair of contacts, said electromagnetic means and a source of current; a resistance incorporated in said circuit and normally efiective to reduce the current flowing through said electromagnetic means to a value insuflicient to cause operation thereof, said resistance being connected in series with said elec tromagnetic means; and means effective upon the actuation of said relay to nullify the current reducing efiect of said resistor whereby the electromagnetic means is actuated only when the beat of the test watch coincides with the beat of the standard watch.

3. In a watch timing. apparatus, a relay. sound responsive means for transmitting to said relay electrical impulses corresponding to the beats of a watch to be tested; a standard watch pro: vided with a pair of electrical contacts actuated in .synchronism with. the beats thereof; a, time registering mechanism; electromagnetic means eirective to start, stop and reset to zero said time registering mechanism in response to successive energization thereof; an electric circuit including in series, said pair of contacts, said electromagnetic means and a source of current; a resistance incorporated in said circuit and normally effective to reduce the current flowing through said electromagnetic means to a value insuflicient to cause operation thereof, said resistance being connected in parallel with said electromagnetic means; and means effective upon the actuation of said relay to nullify the current reducing effect of said resistor whereby the electromagnetic means is actuated only when the beat of the test watch coincides with the beat of the standard watch.

JEAN LEPLATTENIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS I Date Aubl'e Feb; 1, 1944 

